[Pro]Problems after boot

Forget about the floppy. That tool is for 16 bit DOS based systems and XP does not have DOS.
I guess the first thing I should have suggested is to go back to a restore point when all was ok.
You can still try that.
If you have problems booting up try booting into safe mode and under Start>All Programs>Accessories>System Tools choose System Restore.
Also when you see the boot menu that includes Safe Mode there is another option to boot into the last known good........
If you are finding yourself getting deeper in trouble you should consider backing up your data and starting afresh.

That floppy will work great no matter what is installed on the hdd.
If it is made right and you boot to it correctly, it will work.

By the way, there are lots of versions of DOS, some of which are not hampered by NTFS.

Finally signs of life. I haven't been able to go to settings and therefore to add/remove programs. Yesterday I booted up to the Windows screen, and I tried "Set Programs Access and Defaults". That screen had an add/remove option. I clicked it and it actually came up and worked. I removed Adobe Reader Update, Adobe Reader, all of the HP programs that I found, and Apple Application for quick time and itune. The one that I really wanted to remove was eAcceleration, a free virus protection program. When I tried to remove it, the .exe would load about 2500k then would stop responding, much as every thing else has been doing. Each time I would delete a couple of programs then shut down. On coming back up, a diskcheck was made, which was a strange thing to happen. But at least I know that the hard drive is spinning and reading. I am going to work on making the Max Blaster cd's correctly today, for I think that I didn't do it right, after reading the help in the website for the 'ultimate cd'. Oh, and now I get a message telling me that my Windows program may be counterfiet. I highly doubt that it is though.

One more thing, when I try to run a program, any program, the performance pegs out to 100%, then the program stops responding. Doesn't this sound like spyware/adware or virus?

ok, even the computer shop thinks that the hard drive is mechanically failing. I was just about to go buy one of those Gateways from Best Buy, until I saw a critical comment about Gateway on one of the forums. Is this the general feeling about Gateway?

A lot of us do not care for name brand computers that you buy in stores.

I build my own, or have them custom built at a so called mom and pop store I trust.

I am reading the "How To Build" section now. Hopefully I will be able to venture into the home brew also. At the very least, I will be able to make a better selection if I do go with a major brand or a mom & pop.

And after reading the "How to Build" you have questions, ask cause we're here to help you build that new one. Just after I joined VDR, guys like Train helped me build my first one.....and since then, I've built my own and some for others.

Thank you photolady; I should probably start a new thread, but before I do, I have a quick question. I have a large and roomy Optiplex box. Can I use it and also reuse the ce drive, burner and floppy? Then wouldn't I be able to just replace the cpu, mobo and hard drive?

Thanks photolady. I do have one quick question. Since I have a large Optiplex box, can I reuse the cd drive, burner and floppy drive, and just replace the cpu, mobo and hard drive? Or should I start over completely?

You can re-use your existing bits if you wish.

Did you have a CD-ROM, CD-R, CD-RW or any kind of DVD inserted into any drive at the time you received the "Cannot load DOS" message?

This indicates the system was trying to boot from a CD drive first as specified in the CMOS.

If so, I would try removing it, and attempt to boot from your floppy again.
You may also have to change the boot order in the CMOS setup to boot from the floppy.

As for your Optiplex, you will have to change the power supply most certainly. I doubt that power supply has enough power to run the new system. Plus it may not be the correct ATX connector for the new motherboard.

I had only the floppy inserted at the time. The other drives were empty. I had the floppy drive set as first priority. I think that I exhausted all possibilities before I gave up. Now, it is time for me to make a confession...I wasn't able to build the Ultimate Boot Cd, because I got to a point where I had to insert the XP CD into the cd drive, then copy it to the hard drive. This would have been the hard drive of my wife's computer, which I am presently using. I didn't proceed, due to fear of messing up her computer as well. It just didn't make sense to me...I mean...this computer has XP installed..so I have no idea what I would have been doing.
Also, thanks for the info on reusing that Optiplex box. It is very roomy, even though kinda ugly, and doesn't have front connectors. But for my first build, I want to be careful while gaining confidence.

The person in the link below claims he or she was able to avoid the "Cannot load DOS!" message by performing a cold boot of the computer.

Apparently the message is displayed when a cold boot is not performed or you perform a "warm reboot" using the Maxtor PowerMax diskette.

A cold boot refers to shutting down the computer and shutting off the computer's power switch and then turning the power switch back on.

http://www.d-a-l.com/help/showthread.php?t=23863

I would make sure that the CMOS settings have not been tampered with.